SecCo list of items – SecGen summary statement – Addendum

SUMMARY STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON MATTERS OF WHICH THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS SEIZED AND ON THE STAGE REACHED IN THEIR CONSIDERATION

Addendum

Pursuant to rule 11 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council, the Secretary-General is submitting the following summary statement.

The list of items of which the Security Council is seized is contained in documents S/19420 of 11 January 1988.

During the week ending 9 January 1988, the Security Council took action on the following item:

The situation in the occupied Arab territories (see S/11935/Add.18, S/11935/Add.19, S/11935/Add.20, S/11935/Add.21, S/11935/Add.44, S/11935/Add.45, S/13033/Add.9, S/13033/Add.10, S/13033/Add.11, S/13033/Add.28, S/13737/Add.7, S/13737/Add.8, S/13737/Add.18, S/13737/Add.20, S/13737/Add.22, S/13737/Add.50, S/14326/Add.50, S/14840/Add.1, S/14840/Add.2, S/14840/Add.3, S/14840/Add.4, S/14840/Add.12, S/14840/Add.13, S/14840/Add.15, S/14840/Add.16, S/14840/Add.45, S/15560/Add.6, S/15560/Add.7, S/15560/Add.20, S/15560/Add.30, S/15560/Add.31, S/16880/Add.36, S/17725/Add.3, S/17725/Add.4, S/17725/Add.48, S/17725/Add.49, S/18570/Add.49, S/18570/Add.50 and S/18570/Add.51)

In a letter dated 4 January 1988 addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/19420), the Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group of States at the United Nations for the month of January, requested that an immediate meeting of the Security Council be convened to address the situation in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories.

The Security Council resumed its consideration of the item at its 2780th meeting, on 5 January 1988, on the basis of the above request.

In the course of the meetings, the President, with the consent of the Council, invited the representative of Israel, at his request, to participate in the discussion without the right to vote.

The President drew attention to the request contained in the letter dated 5 January 1988  from  Algeria (S/19404) that the Permanent Observer of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to the United Nations be invited to participate in the debate. He said that the proposal was not formulated under rule 37 or rule 39 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council but that, if the Council were to adopt the proposal, the invitation would confer on the PLO the same rights of participation as those conferred on Member States invited pursuant to rule 37.

Following discussion, the Security Council adopted the proposal by 10 votes to 1 (United States of America), with 4 abstentions (France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Italy and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

The President drew attention to the text of a draft resolution (S/19403), submitted by Algeria, Argentina, Nepal, Senegal, Yugoslavia and Zambia.

The Security Council then proceeded to vote on the draft resolution (S/19403), and adopted it unanimously as resolution 607 (1988).

Resolution 607 (1988) reads as follows:

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolution 605 (1987) of 22 December 1987,

Expressing grave concern over the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories,

Having been apprised of the decision of Israel, the occupying Power, to "continue the deportation" of Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories,

Recalling the Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war, of 12 August 1949, and in particular articles 47 and 49 of same,

1. Reaffirms once again that the Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to Palestinian and other Arab territories, occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem,

2. Calls upon Israel to refrain from deporting any Palestinian civilians from the occupied territories;

3. Strongly requests Israel, the occupying Power, to abide by its obligation arising from the Convention;

4. Decides to keep the situation in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, under review.

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